The Isle of Eight Flags shrimp festival in Fernandina, Amelia Island, Florida, Â draws a huge crowd every year, but the festivities kick off early with a fun and festive parade. Here you’ll see all kinds of floats and costumes,from dancing shrimp, to dancers, live bands, music, soldiers and of course the always popular pirates. This time they even managed to scare our camera man. Check out this video and you’ll understand what I’m talking about.
(Click here to read our previous post about the Fernandina Shrimp Festival)
Amelia Island Chamber Music Festival 2010
Amelia Island Chamber Music Festival, One of the Largest Classical Music Events in the Southeast takes place i Fernandina Beach, Amelia Island, Florida on  May 7-30, 2010
Amelia Island will host the ninth season of the Amelia Island Chamber Music Festival, one of the largest chamber festivals in the southeastern U.S. Â The Festival will feature over fifty internationally acclaimed artists and eighteen performances in different locations around around the island, including churches, an historic courthouse and one of the best preserved Civil War forts in the nation.
Christopher Rex, the Festival’s artistic director and principal cellist of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, said, “Entering its ninth season, The Amelia Island Chamber Music Festival has become a nationally recognized event, drawing music lovers from around the country. The 2010 Festival will feature a galaxy of internationally acclaimed stars, including pianists Andre Watts, and Valentina Lisitsa; The Eroica Trio; violinists Robert McDuffie and Arnold Steinhardt, formerly principal violin with the Guarneri String Quartet; cellist Andres Diaz; soprano Jessica Rivera; and The St. Lawrence String Quartet. These and other artists, combined with the unparalleled beauty of Amelia Island, are certain to make our upcoming Festival the best yet.â€
The complete schedule of the 2010 Amelia Island Chamber Music Festival is available at the Festival’s web site, www.aicmf.
Highlights of the 2010 Amelia Island Chamber Music Festival include:
Pianist Valentina Lisitsa, May 7 at the Friday Musicale concert hall in Jacksonville (645 Oak Street) in a piano quintet and piano duet with her husband, Alexi Kuznetsoff; and May 16 on Amelia Island.
Described by critics as “positively dazzling†and “electrifying,†she has performed at most of the world’s most prestigious venues, including New York’s Carnegie Hall and Avery Fisher Hall, Vienna’s Musikverein and Amsterdam’s Concertgebouw. Valentina had more than 80 performances in the 2009 season.
Violinist Robert McDuffie, May 13
Robert McDuffie, a Grammyâ nominated violinist, has appeared as soloist with most of the major orchestras of the world. “A New York critic recently wrote: “McDuffie is one of the finest violinists of our age.†Anotherreview from the Chicago Sun-Times commented: “The evening’s hero was the remarkable American fiddler Robert McDuffie, who plays with magnetic energy and seeming effortlessness.â€
Pianist André Watts, May 14
Considered one of the greatest pianists on the international stage, André Watts burst upon the music world in 1963 at the age of 16 when Leonard Bernstein chose him to make his debut with the New York Philharmonic in their Young People’s Concerts, broadcast nationwide on CBS-TV. More than 45 years later, André Watts remains one of today’s most celebrated stars..
Jay Ungar and Molly Mason, May 18 and 19
Violinist Jay Ungar and guitarist Molly Mason composed and performed the musical hallmark of Ken Burns’ The Civil War on PBS. The couple is recognized for its timeless renditions of hard-driving Appalachian, Cajun and Celtic fiddle tunes, stirring Civil War classics, sassy songs from the golden age of swing and country, stunning waltzes, and deeply moving original compositions.
The Eroica Trio, May 23
The Eroica is one of the most sought-after trios in the world. The three women who make up the Grammy®-nominated Eroica Trio—one of the first all-female ensembles to reach the top echelon of its field—electrify the concert stage with their performances of depth and precision. “This is a superlative ensemble, producing one of the biggest and most brilliant piano trio sounds in memory,†lauded a New York music critic.
Free Concerts
As part of the Festival’s community outreach initiatives, four concerts of the 2010 season will be free of charge, including a concert in Central Park on May 16 and a Family Concert on May 29.
Tickets for the 2010 Festival can be purchased by credit card at the Festival’s website (www.aicmf.com) or 904/261-1779. Ticket prices range from $10 to $60, with most priced at $25.
Isle of Eight Flags Shrimp Festival 2010 – Fernandina, Fl
Fernandina has one of the best and biggest shrimp festivals on the coast. This year it’s the 47th Anniversary for the popular Isle of Eight Shrimp Festival. This year the festival is scheduled for April 30 – May 2, 2010.  Fernandina Shrimp Festival is traditionally held the first weekend in May in the Historic downtown Centre Street business district in Fernandina Beach on Amelia Island, Florida.
Pirate Parade and Invasion
The party kicks off already on Thursday with an exciting Pirate Parade at 6 p.m. You’ll get to see all kinds of creations in this unique parade – from pirate ships to gigantic shrimp. The theme for this year’s parade is “Name that tune”, and I can’t wait to see what’s going to be performed. Coastal Companion is planning to film the parade this year, so if you happen to see me, make sure to say hello.
Then on Friday it’s time for the opening of the festival and the actual invasion of the pirates Friday night.
There’s also a bunch of contests;  Best Decorated Boat, Best Decorated Pirate, Miss Shrimp Festival pageant, and my personal favorite, the only one I could possibly participate in and win  – the ice cream eating contest.
Plan for lots of people, lots of fun and plan for walking a lot. The Amelia Island River Cruises will run a special ferry boat from St Marys, Georgia over to the festival, so check with them for the schedule. If the weather is nice, it’s a beautiful trip past Cumberland Island and Fort Clinch – and you won’t have to fight traffic that way. (www.ameliaislandrivercruises.com)
For the complete program, visit the website at www.shrimpfestival.com
2010 Railroad Days Festival in Callahan, Florida
The two day signature fund raising celebration, 2010 Railroad Days Festival, will be held on Friday and Saturday, March 26th and 27th in and around the historic Victorian Style Callahan train station. The West Nassau Historical Society will debut their new museum lighting system and freshly renovated caboose as part of the various events at this year’s 2010 Railroad Days Festival.
Friday Events
On Friday, March 26, 2010, there will be various food and craft vendors on the grounds starting at 12 noon. Mrs. Kate, a local popular folk singer will perform at 4:30 PM Friday, highlighting an afternoon and evening lineup of live entertainment from the front platform. You can also tour the bright red caboose and see the depot’s new lighting system. The Historical Society’s members have been tirelessly reconstructing the former ACL caboose which in 1967 was converted from a 1940s steel box car. The West Nassau Museum of History’s new lighting system inside the depot was made possible by donations from CSX and Rayonier.
Saturday Events
On Saturday, March 27, 2010, the craft and food vendors will reopen at 10 AM. The Shriners will lead a procession of fire trucks, antiques cars and floats in the annual Railroad Days Parade starting at 11:00 AM. A classic car show hosted by Cochrane’s Collision Center will follow the parade. The town of Callahan will host a kids’ play area on the depot grounds and model and scale trains, steam driven engines, Operation Lifesaver and photo contest entries highlight the exhibits. A welcoming and sponsor appreciation ceremony starts on Saturday at 1 PM followed by live entertainment from 3 PM until 8 PM.
For additional information on the 2010 Railroad Days Festival or on becoming a volunteer, sponsor, or donor on please call John Hendricks with the West Nassau Historical Society at 904-879-3406.
The West Nassau Historical Society is a non-profit, tax exempt organization dedicated to the preservation of Western Nassau County’s rich history and to the maintenance and upkeep of the historic Callahan Depot.
Concourse d’Elegance Amelia Island, Fl 2010
The world’s finest vintage motor cars will again visit Amelia Island, on March 12 – 14, 2010, for the highly anticipated annual event, The 15th Annual Amelia Island Concourse d’Elegance.
The Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance is a vintage auto event featuring over 250 rare classics from seldom-seen private collections nationwide. The show takes place at The Golf Club of Amelia Island at Summer Beach adjacent to The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island.
The event is often referred to as the ‘Pebble Beach of the East Coast’, attracting collectors and car enthusiasts from all over the world to the Northeast coast of Florida.
The event will honor the 40th anniversary of Porsche’s inaugural victory at the 24 Hours of Daytona and Le Mans and showcase a number of influential 917s. This model is by many considered to be one of the most significant racecars of our time. This year’s Concours will also honor Sir Stirling Moss, OBE and the 50th Anniversary of Moss’ victory in the last Cuban Grand Prix.
